Marcus Aurelius bronze portrait

A magnificent bronze portrait of Marcus Aurelius (AD 161–180), discovered in 1974 at the Roman auxiliary fort of Lugio (modern Dunaszekcső), on the Danube frontier in Hungary. Dated to AD 161–169, the head is about one and a half times life-size. It ranks among the finest surviving bronze portraits from Roman Pannonia. Cast using the lost-wax technique, probably in a workshop in Italy or the eastern provinces, the portrait depicts the emperor in his forties. The head was found in a small brick building, possibly a military shrine, and originally belonged to a larger imperial statue.This gold aureus was struck in Rome around 177. It sold for $25,200 in 2023.